Given by the number of questions received for this Bulls mailbag edition, fans aren’t tanking.

Moving forward, would you like to see Bobby Portis or Noah Vonleh as the starting center? Or do the Bulls not yet have that player? — Kevin Escalona, Wheeling

The Bulls have a starting center. His name is Robin Lopez. And I’d say there’s a better than average chance he is exactly that when training camp starts next summer. And I don’t buy that he doesn’t fit in a pace-and-space offense. He’s a great screen setter. He has good hands and passes well. He has developed nice pick-and-roll chemistry with Kris Dunn. He’ll certainly be available around the draft for the right deal, just as he was in February and will be again next February. But the Bulls are lucky to have such a professional.

Will the presence of Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine prevent the Bulls from considering guards such as Trae Young, Collin Sexton and Lonnie Walker in the draft? — Tom, Lisle

I don’t think you can limit yourself when you’re on the front end of a rebuild. You have to take best player available. The Bulls are short on wings. In today’s NBA, you could get away with playing Dunn and LaVine and any of the above players mentioned, although defensively, that could get ugly. And this is not saying the Bulls are high on any of those three players because Dunn is indeed the starting point guard and Cameron Payne and Jerian Grant are under contract for next season. Wing is a bigger need.

With the way David Nwaba is playing off the bench or starting, it seems as if he has proved his worth. Is there a chance that he and the front office can come to an agreement if the price is right? — Donte, Chicago

Not only is there a chance, there’s a good chance. The Bulls can make him a restricted free agent and give themselves the power to match any offers he receives by making him a qualifying offer by late June, which they plan to do. I’d say it’s far more likely than not that he’s back with the Bulls.

Would you trade Zach LaVine or Lauri Markkanen plus the ninth pick for the top pick in the draft? — Jose, Plainfield

To quote the great Rajon Rondo, um, how can I say this? No. I realize this draft is considered heavy on star potential near the top. But you’d be giving up two assets for one that is no sure thing. Markkanen looks like a sure thing for a long time, albeit one with perhaps less of a ceiling than whichever player is selected No. 1 this year. If the Bulls have done their work, they can get a good player at No. 8 or No. 9 or wherever they draft.

Do you think going into a full-on tank to get a higher pick to end the season is more beneficial than getting the trio of Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen more reps together? — Sid, Orlando, Fla.

Well, the player-development phase the Bulls entered post All-Star break by sitting Robin Lopez and Justin Holiday hasn’t affected the future core’s playing time. What you could argue it is affecting is their chemistry because they’re theoretically not playing with the strongest lineup and/or their spirit since the losses are coming fast and furiously. Speaking frankly here, covering this stretch has been odd. Even in the post-dynasty years, the Bulls were just flat-out bad and filled with young players. They didn’t sit regular starters. So while I understand the move, it has been odd to cover.

I know it’s a small sample size and that he’s coming back from an ACL tear, but Zach LaVine’s game doesn’t appear to fit well with Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen. Those two have much better chemistry on the court without LaVine, who at times can be a little too ball dominant. Factoring this and the fact LaVine has been very inefficient in his return, do you think the Bulls will offer him a short-term deal rather than a long-term, potentially cap-clogging contract? — Dan, New York

The points you make are legitimate until you try to correlate LaVine struggling to fit with Dunn and Markkanen and his contract negotiations. Here’s why: You don’t trade Jimmy Butler to let the main acquisition walk. And while I realize you don’t suggest that and merely possibly offering him a short-term deal, you certainly run the risk of alienating him with a short-term offer. The Bulls historically have played hardball with restricted free agents. Butler is the biggest example. So I certainly expect some bumps in these negotiations. That’s what negotiations are for. But when you traded Butler, you absolutely had to be sold on LaVine. And you have to hope his lack of chemistry with Dunn and LaVine comes more from lack of rhythm or time off than anything else.

Have you acquired enough observations that the Zach LaVine experiment strongly suggests he’s not worthy of a max contract? Is he a team guy? Is he a player you build around? Can he co-exist with Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen? No, no and no. What is your view?— Hugh, Boston

My view is you listed three nos to four questions. I’d be surprised if the Bulls offer him a max contract. But I’ve been surprised before and, as mentioned above, that’s what negotiations are for. LaVine is absolutely a team guy. Always looks inward, always available and always upbeat around teammates. Now, whether his shoot-first mentality fits with Markkanen and Dunn is, as also mentioned above, a legitimate concern. But the Bulls believed he’d be a player you could build around when they made the Butler trade. Again, he’s 23 games removed from missing almost a calendar year. It’s probably too early for definitive judgment.

What do you believe Kris Dunn’s ceiling to be? How does his work ethic affect it? — Nick, Mokena

He’s certainly capable of being on an all-defensive team. Offensively he has shown the temperament to be a closer. His film study is well-documented. And he was legitimately humbled by his underwhelming rookie season. That, and an appreciation to be given a second chance by the Bulls, combine for some intriguing possibilities.

The Bulls have money to spend this summer. Do they use it on other teams’ bad contracts plus assets or do they reinforce the team and try to compete with quality free agents? Who are some of the free agents they might have interest in? Fred VanVleet? Mario Hezonja? Clint Capela? — Ron, McHenry

They’ll be in the market for both scenarios. And while I have no idea yet whom they will target in free agency, the names you list are probably in the right category than huge splashes or big names. VanVleet and Capela are restricted free agents, and their current teams are very invested in re-signing them. Bulls management has been very consistent in talking about patience with this rebuild. So while they do have cap space this summer, I don’t get the sense they’re targeting big splashes and massive, long-term deals. Look for them to add the two first-round picks and hope for growth from Dunn, Markkanen and LaVine to move into lower-tier playoff contention.